Car-coupling



2 sheets-sheet 1.

(No Mod'el.)

J. E. DAVIS, J1".

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 407,996. Patented July 30, 1889.

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(No Model.) v I 2 sheQpS-Sheet 2L J. E. DAVIS. JI. GAR GUPLING.

No. 407,996. Patented July 30, 1889.

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UNITED STATES JOHN ELLIE DAVIS, JR., OF

ArtNr OFFICE.

VEST POINT, MISSISSIPPI.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part Aof Letters Patent No. 407,996, dated July 80, 1889.

Beit known that I, JOHN ELLIE DAVIS, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Test Point, in the county of Clay and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,' clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates, generally, to ycouplings for cars, and particularly to automatic couplings of that class in which a link is used as the connection between the cars.

The object of the invention is to vimprove upon constructions of this kind, and the nature of these improvements will hereinafter be fully described in the specification and pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents an end elevation of a car; Fig. 2, a section of a coupling, showing parts ready to receive the link; Fig. 3, a section showing the link in place; Fig. 4, a top plan of the coupling and the buffer in section; Fig. 5, a detail showing one of the weights; Fig. G, a detail showing the elbow-dog and locking-cam; Fig. 7, a detail; Fig/S, a side elevation of the buifer with rod removed, and Fig. 9 an elevation of my form of coupling shown on one side and the old form on the other side. y

A represents the draw-head, having the usual flaring mouth. In the bottom of the draw-head an opening a. is formed for the elbow a of a link-retaining dog A', which is pivoted to the draw-head in any desired manner. The longer arm a2 of the retaining-dog normally rests in a recess CL3, formed in the bottom of the draw-head, so that the upper face will be flush with the bottom of the drawhead and not interfere with the link when inserted in the drawhead. The short arm CL4, which extends vertically when arm a2 is in recess c3, is connected with said arm a2 by the elbow a', rounded on its upper angle, as shown, so that the link when entering the draw-head will have a curved surface to act upon to upset the dog and throw the long arm a2 into the slot of the link to hold it in place. In the upper side of the draw-head is a slot Serial No. 308,509. (No model.)

a5 forthe locking-cam A2, pivoted at the front end and projecting into the space formed by the walls of the draw-head. The cam A2 is provided with an inclined face d, against which the link acts to raise the cam, so that the link can reach the arm CL4 of the dog A to upset it. The rear part of the cam is curved and forms a bearing for the long arm CL2 of the dog when the latter is upset to hold the link. The upper side of the locking-cam is provided with an eye 0,7 or other device for lifting the cam when itis desired to release the link. On each side of the slot a5 are formed slots CLS and a9 for the pivoted weights As and A. These weights are pivoted at their front end by a rod am, which also passes through the locking-cam A2. The front part au of the under side of these weights is beveled, so that the link in entering the draw-head will be guided toward the short arm of the dog. The under side als of the weight is parallel with the upper side, and when the link has passed thereunder holds the latter in a horizontal position and ready to enter the draw-head on the car to be coupled. The rear ends a of the weights are rabbeted and enter a recess C05 formed in the rear of the draw-head, and the lower end is provided with a heel al, which engages with the bottom of the drawhead recess. The link in entering the drawhead' first lifts theweights and locking-cam, strikes the short arm of the dog, which is thereby upset in such manner as to throw the long arm through the slot of the link, and in a vertical position back of the locking-cam, Vwhich falls in front of said arm and locks it in place, while the weights, which also resume their normal position, hold the link horizontally. By lifting the locking-cam and pulling on the link the position ot the dog is reversed and the linkvwill be free of the locking mechanism. The cam is then returned to its place and the coupling is ready to receive and lock the link in place.

To unlock the coupling, several means may be employed. One is abar B, extending across the end of the car and having hand-grasp l) at each end for turning or rocking the bar, which is provided at its center with a crankarm D, connected with the eye al by a chain b2. By turning the rocking bar B the lockingcam is lifted and the link is free to upset the IOO dog to its normal position and be withdrawn from the draw-head. A second bar B, eX- tending from a point near the top of the car and connected by a chain b3 to the crank-arm bfcan also be lift-ed to removeI the lockingcam from contact with the dog. The bar I5 is provided with a pin or projection b4, which can be raised throughthe slot in guide and turned to .hold the bar B in an elevated position, said bar in turn holding the cam, so that the link will be free to pull out. The advantage of this is found in using a flying switch. The bar B is set as above described and the cars behind it are released in time to take the switch on the run.

The shank D of the draw-bar is provided with aiiat coiled spring, which resists the pulling and pushing movement of the draw-head and prevents the jarring that usually occurs when such means are not provided.

In coupling cars that are provided with my device the Weights hold the link in such position that the end to be inserted is guided to the exact place; but in that class of devices where the link is free to move or hangs looselT from a pin some means must be provided Yfor guiding them into the draw-head. One means forovercoming this is shown inthe drawings, and consists ofthe curved guide-plate E, which normally hangs from the draw-head, to which it is pivoted by arms E Eon the bolt @,journaled in the draw-head. To raise the plate E int-o position any suitable device may be used. I prefer, however, to use a butter I, having atits rear end a transverse passage I. The end i' of the passage is provided with an opening lL", and the opposite end is closed by a washer 2, held in the passage by flange or lugs fr?. Between the end t' and washer i2 is interposed a coil-spring i, which forces the 'vertical arm of the dog,

Washer against the flange The ends of arms E are provided with a chain E2, passing over a pulley e2, secured to the car and connected to the end of a pull-rod I2, which passes through the passage I to the side of the car. The rod I2 is provided with a' cross-head 5, which, when the rod is pulled, passes through a slot i in the washer 2 and is turned to engage With the groove i7 in the face of the Washer. Vhe'n the link strikes the plate E, all jar is avoided, as the blow is more or less relieved by the arms E drawing upon the chains and rod, which forces the washer against the spring in the lateral passage. When the plateE is not used, the washer can be released from the cross-head, and the Weight of the plate will draw the rod I2 to its normal position.

What I claim as new isl.' In a car-coupling, the combination of an .angular dog pivoted at the elbow to the bottom of the draw-head, a pivoted locking-cam projecting into the draw-head in front of the and the pivoted weights on each side of the locking-cam and having the inclined front ends to guide the link to the dog, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a draw-head, a guideplate having arms and pivoted to the drawhead, a butter having a passage provided with a spring and a slotted Washer, a pull-rod having a cross-head and extending through said passage, and a chain passing over a pulley and connected with the guide-plate arms and the end of the pull-rod.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN ELLIE DAVIS, JR.

Titnesscsr GEO. R. BYINGTON, i M. F. HALLECK. 

